Entry for 29th January, 2008

Welcome to the Blog of the Kindly Cuppa
40 Cups of Tea With 40 Friends
is my goal in life.
And it must be done before 10th July.
Click here to find out why.
If you would like to be my friend and earn a QCT (Qualifying Cup of Tea) then let me know.
No. of QCTs to date: 4
I was chatting to one of my mates the other night about shows, and I was explaining to him that I like taking shows to the Edinburgh Fringe because I like pitching my shows up against other productions: testing them: seeing if they hold up against professional shows. I don't think he entirely approved. My competitive streak was ruining the purity of the art. Surely, if a show's worth doing, it's worth expending heart and soul on whether it's at the world's biggest arts festival, or whether it's in the local church hall?
Well, that's right of course. But I don't view shows as a sport. There aren't winners and losers like there are in a 1500 metres race. You don't cross the line first. If there is a race at all, then it is your individual one. You aren't on the starting blocks with seven other runners; you are out on your own - running up a hill, in the freezing early morning mist.
But the thing about running up hills is this:if there's somebody running near you, or watching you, you run just a little faster. You raise your game. You feel your stride lengthen. Your lungs work a little harder than they usually do. Not because you are racing as such, but because you are in the company of other runners. Not only that - when you go out on the hill on your own again, you find you can run a little faster. Your muscles and lungs have learned a few new tricks.
That's why I like the Fringe. It's a mountain range with runners everywhere - on every every foothill, every summit and every ridge.